Housing/urban Issues/Gentrification

On the 17th of June, DC community activists rallied in front of Truist Bank in Adams-Morgan before marching to Adams-Morgan Plaza. At the plaza, they restored the memorial to Miguel Gonzales that Truist Bank had again destroyed. Afterwards the march proceeded though the streets to Dupont Circle.

Video: activists march on the plaza, again rebuild monument to Miguel Gonzales 2 min 16 sec

On June 1, the National Park Service raided the unhoused tent camp at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. They loaded tents into a trash truck, reports are the occupants of the tents had sucessfully moved with some of their gear to other camps. Anything people were unable to carry away was destroyed by the Park Service. Not a single person was placed in any form of indoor housing.

Update June 2:One woman stood her ground and refused to move at the end of the eviction. Park Police first tasered her, then committed her against her will to a psychiatric facility (like the Soviet Union used to do.)

Video-NPS pulls down tents, load them into garbage trucks 52 sec

This is a bit delayed, but reports have reached Indymedia that on Feb 26th,. Truist Bank's security guards stole posessions of unhoused residents on the plaza at 18th and Columbia Road. Unhoused residents have been driven from the plaza by harassment but activists still hold it. Truist Bank is attempting to fence off, then demolish the plaza for condo construction but has been hung up in court for decades.

On the 30th of October, opponents of "redevelopment" of McMillan Park into "mixed use" office, upscale retail, and luxury apartments held a rally at 1st and Bryant Sts NE. A single supporter of the developers attempted to counterprotest by playing one song over and over at top volume on a sound system mounted in his car. Neighbors disturbed by the noise demanded he turn it down or leave.